Stored pressure medium container with discharge control



Jan. 14, 1958 l FQ B. ALLEN Y 2,819,820

STORED PRESSURE MEDIUM CONTAINER WITH DISCHARGE CONTROL Filed July 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheen 1 FANKA/.IEN 4 A from/fr Jan, 14, 1958 F. xa.` ALLEN .2,819,820

STORED PRESSURE MEDIUM CONTAINER WITH DISCHARGE CONTROL" Filed July 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 47d INVENTOR.

F'A/w( 5. ,4L L EN A r roe/ver hice STORED PRESSURE MEDIUM CONTAINER WITH DISCHARGE CONTROL Frankv B. Allen, Towaco, N. J., assigmor, by mesne assignments, to The Fyr-Fyter Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application `luly 19, 1954, Serial No. 444,312

6 Cairns. (ci. 222-5) determined and controlled rate of discharge. When a container is used in a ire extinguisher it is generally necessary that ample fluid pressure be available to discharge the fire extinguishing agent in less than a minute. Furthermore, it is important that a leak-proof seal be `provided for the fluid' as the device, in the case of a fire extinguisher, may not be used for a year or more, but-thestoredy uid always must be available for instant action in the case of a fire. While seat valve closures havebeen provided for some containers, it has been foundff desirable in the smaller units to provide a disc seal.

Among the advantages of the disc seal is thatI when properly made it almost always remains leali-proof. Another advantage is that the disc providesa safetyoutletz'forthe release of the uid in the event the pressure ini the container builds up to an unsafe amount such as from a high. temperature. Still another advantage is thatthe stored fluid may be released instantly upon. the

yrupturing-of the disc by a puncturing member.

Although the disc acts as a safety valve to relieve an excessivel pressure, such as may. occur in the container under.- high temperatureconditions, there is a potential hazard in that in an unsecured container the recoil of the escaping fluid may cause the container to. rocket about: wildly. and possibly cause injury or damage. Heretofore, attempts have been made to overcome this didiculty.` by restricting the outlet passage by making it' of small. diameter .or by placing an orice disc therein so as. to limit` the rate of discharge of the duid. and thus limit the recoil action. With such constructions difficultyhas been found in `some cases in that the charging rate is very slow, thus considerably adding to the charging and recharging costs. Also, with the prior constructions, it is difficult to drain out any water or other material which may have entered the container either before its original' charge or during the period While its disc was ruptured, but before recharge, Without devalving the container;

The present invention aims to overcome the diiculties and disadvantages of prior devices by providing a con-` tainer having a limited discharge rate, yet which may be rapidly charged or recharged.

rate of the container would result in excessiveprcSSuriZ-i ing and stressing of the walls of the extinguisher. Various forms of the invention may be provided to take care of the various requirements.

These objects are accomplished by providing a stored pressure medium container having closure means such as a sealing disc with. a fluid flow limiting member in proximity to the sealing disc and removable ytherewith for ease in replacement. The'edge of the iluid ilow limiting member may .be used as the gasltetkfor the sealing disc. In releasngthe duid-from the container a puncturing memben is adapted to rupture the-sealing disc.I

The inventionis advantageousin that a throwaway unit may be provided at low cost. thusrenderingitfeasible to provide a new fluid ilow limiting means with each recharge overcoming any possible d iiculty which may arise to the orificeJ because of corrosiondamage or ydamageirom mishandlingof the units.

Other objects and' advantages of the invention will; be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings whichshow, by way of examples, embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l illustrates ,a fragmentary, vertical sectional View of a water fire extinguisher -incorporating a stored pressure medium f luidrcontainer made in accordance with the invention.

Figure, 2 is an enlarged sectional View of a por-tion of the structure shown in Figure lillustratingindotted lines the puncturing member at'the bottom ofgits down- -vvardJ stroke.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top viewof the elosureassernbly showing' the outeriilling grooves and the inner grooves for engagement by a tool;

Figure 41 is a vertical .sectional'l viewof thel ii'uid@ passage restricting means in `accordance withl the Vinventionsiin which `the centerportion is extended;l downwardlyf'to provide clearance space for the fpunctuningmembenn Figure 5 is a bottom view corresponding.-to| Figuresd.

Referring to` the drawings, there-.is-shown iniligure .lia water re extinguisher pressurizedibyfa storedi pressure medium `liuid .containerllf made in. accordance-with the invention.

The water lire extinguisher 10s is illustratedftoshow a use for the storedi pressure medium-fiiuid; containerr'll and.x includes.` a standardr shell 12;' adaptedf-to :contain a Vtire extinguisher fluid which isv charged througha filling opening 114 `,closed by, a conventional capv 1'5- UPQ. @the discharge; of theextinguisher the water is pressurized-by uid from the; containerv 1-1 and; expelled .through` `an outletelbow 16 and a discharge hose 17 throughsa; suitable, nozzle (not shown).

Depending from the undersurfaeeoftthe, Cap de, a downwardly extending tubular portion. ,2l-,I having a threaded inner surfacel to receive upperthreaded end ZZ of the closure fitting 23,. A guideway 24,y is provided for-a puncturing member adapted to be moveddownsvardly under pressure being-applied, to its4 actuatingcap 26- The aansturing member 25;y iS normallyheldtinaan upward position by a spring 27'. The,- lower end of lthe puncturing member 2S is pointed asindioatedat y2,9 to facilitate riupturnsthe-closurememben of the Container as will later appear; The, cap..15 is madey with. a. conventional` handlering for the, easy transportatiomof the extinguisher andas ahandle forl screwing andrannscrewing` the cap during the filling operation.

The stored, pressure medium fluid-.container -or pressure vessel k1&1-, inI accordance with the invention cornprises a body or-container portion 31, made o fa-ny suitable material such as steel to store a fluid medium .under high pressure. The upper end of the containervbody is made with a threaded opening 32 in which issecured thenclosure fitting 23y having a.. discharge. duid passage 35 extending therethrough.

asiasao As may be seen in Figure 2, the outer end of the fluid passage 35 is enlarged as indicated at 36 and formed with an upwardly extending sealing seat 37. The outer Surface of the upper end of the closure fitting 23 is threaded as indicated at 39, to be received in the downwardly extending tubular portion 21 to hold the cartridge 11 in position with its outlet S adjacent to the puncturing member 25.

Within the fiuid passage 35 of the closure fitting 23 is a fluid flow limiting member or oriiice member 42. Also positioned in the uid passage 35 and in juxtaposition to the oriiice member 42 is a conventional sealing disc 45 adapted to burst under a predetermined pressure within the container 11. Screen 43 is positioned in the discharge passage 35 below the flow limiting member 42 to prevent foreign particles from entering into and possibly obstructing the orice 48.

The iiuid ow limiting member 42 is preferably made of a material deformable with respect to that of the sealing disc 45 and the sealing seat 37 so that edge 42a of the ow limiting member 42 acts as a sealing gasket to prevent the escape of the stored pressure medium. However, alternatively, a sealing gasket may be used between the flow limiting member 42 and the valve seat 37. The flow limiting member 42 has a depending cylindrical portion 46 with a closed end 47 of generally square section as may be seen in Figure 2, or an end 47a of hemispherical section as may be seen in Figure 4. An orifice 48 is preferably positioned in the center of the closed end.

The orifice member 42 and the sealing disc 45 are held in sealing relationship to close the iiuid passage 35 against the sealing seat 37 by a washer 49 secured by a ring nut 50. The ring nut 50 is in threaded engagement with the wall of the enlarged portion 36 of the tiuid passage and is made with at least one vertically extending filling groove 51 spaced around its circumference. In order to secure the nut in position additional vertically extending grooves 52 are made on the inner surface of the ring nut 50 and adapted to be engaged by a suitable tool which may be turned to tighten the ring nut to provide a good seal. In some constructions the washer 49 might be omitted and the sealing disc held in position directly by the end of the ring nut 50. The construction utilizing the washer is advantageous in providing for the production manufacture of the ring nuts by facilitating the making therein of the inner grooves 52.

The extinguisher is actuated by inverting it and striking its cap 26 against a surface to move the puncturing member 25 inwardly so that its tip 29 ruptures the sealing disc 45 to release the stored iiuid pressure medium for expulsion of the fire extinguishing Huid.

It should be noted that the uid iiow limiting member 42 is so shaped that its lower portion 47 is positioned below the lower point of travel of the tip 29 of the puncturing member 25 so that cutting of the iiow limiting member 42 will not occur and to allow a clearance space for the lips torn in cutting the sealing disc 4S. It also should be noted that in the unoperated position the puncturing tip 29 is spaced from the sealing disc 45 so that there is no chance of weakening or accidental rupture of the sealing disc under conditions of vibration or jarring.

By reason of the incompressibility of the water, and for all practical purposes, the non-solubility therein of the stored fluid pressure medium, it is important that the pressure medium be released at a slow rate through the orifice 48 otherwise the shell 12 would be pressurized to an extent which might cause severe stressing of the walls thereof. Furthermore, without the oriiice member an excessive pressure would result in the production of an excessively strong stream of extinguishing uid at the start which would lessen during the period of effective discharge producing an unsatisfactory result.

In the event the stored pressure medium fluid container 11 is subjected to excessive temperatures such as might result in the case of fire resulting in a terrific increase in its internal pressure, the sealing disc 45 is adapted to rupture at a predetermined pressure below the bursting pressure of the walls of the container 11. However, by reason of the restriction of the orifice 48 of the fluid iiow limiting member 42, the discharge rate of the container il will be at a predetermined safe rate so that the recoil will not be suiiicient to cause the container to rocket and possibly cause damage to persons or property.

in order to facilitate the assembly of a container in accordance with the invention, a unitary pre-assembled unit may be made of the ring nut 50, the washer 49, the

ealing disc 45, and the iiuid passage restricting means or orifice member 42. In this case, the lower end of the ring nut Sii should be made extended to receive the parts which are then secured in position by `spinning in the end as indicated at 54.

In refilling the container 11 it is preferred that a new unitary assembly be used each time in order to assure that the orifice member will be free from dirt, corrosion or the like. The container is refilled by connecting it to a source of uid pressure with the ring nut 50 loosened. A filling passage is thus provided through the vertically extending iilling grooves 51 across the sealing seat 37 into the interior of the container. The ring nut 50 is then tightened to seal the container.

It is thus apparent that the present invention provides a stored liuid pressure medium container overcoming the difficulties and disadvantages of prior devices by providing a container having a limited discharge rate which may be readily charged or recharged.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that other embodiments may be resorted to without departing from the invention. For example, while the orifice has been described and illustrated as being the center of the uid flow restricting member it is obvious that it may be located in any part thereof providing a fluid dow. Furthermore, while the invention has been illustrated and described as applicable to a container having a sealing disc closure member, it is apparent that the construction also might be applied to containers having a seat type closure valve utilizing the herein described construction to provide a limited discharge rate to avoid recoil diiculties. Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be considered as illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A readily chargeable stored high pressure medium container for use with a separable discharge device including a reciprocable puncturing member, the puncturing member having a predetermined length of stroke and normally maintained in an upward position away from contact with the container, outlet means for the container forming a passage into the container, an outwardly turned sealing seat about the passage, a closure assembly for the outlet means including an axially slotted sealing disc nut threadedly engaged in the closure assembly, a sealing disc at least of a strength to hold the normal pressure in the container and rupturable by a puncturing member, a ow limiting member having an orice therein and of a strength to hold the pressure in the container while the container is being discharged through the orifice, means spacing the portions of the sealing disc and flow limiting member along the center line of the puncturing member a distance greater than the length of travel of the puncturing member so that upon a stroke of the puncturing member the iiow limiting member is free from contact with the puncturing member, and means securing the sealing disc and the ow limiting member with the sealing disc nut in a unitary assembly, whereby upon the retraction of the sealing disc nut away from the sealing seat an unobstructed filling passage is provided through an axial slot of the sealing disc nut past the seat into the container.

2. A readily chargeable stored high pressure medium container for use with a separable discharge device including a reciprocable puncturing member, the puncturing member having a predetermined length of stroke and normally maintained in an upward position away from contact with the container, outlet means for the container forming a passage into the container, an outwardly turned sealing seat about the passage, a closure assembly for the outlet means including an axially slotted sealing disc nut threadedly engaged in the closure assembly, a sealing disc at least of a strength to hold the normal pressure in the container and rupturable by a puncturing member, a cylindrically walled downwardly depending closed end ow limiting member having an orifice therein and of a strength to hold the pressure in the container while the container is being discharged through the orifice, a anged top edge for the ow limiting member, the cylindrical wall of the ow limiting member spacing the ow limiting member end from the sealing disc along the center line of the puncturing member a distance greater than the length of travel of the puncturing member so that upon a stroke of the puncturing member the flow limiting member is free from contact with the end of the puncturing member, and means securing the sealing disc and the ow limiting member with the sealing disc nut in a unitary assembly, whereby upon the retraction of the sealing disc nut away from the sealing seat an unobstructed lling passage is provided through an axial slot of the sealing disc nut past the seat into the container.

3. A readily chargeable stored high pressure medium container for use with a separable discharge device including a reciprocable puncturing member, the puncturing member having a predetermined length of stroke and normally maintained in an upward position away from contact with the container, outlet means for the container forming a passage into the container, an outwardly turned sealing seat about the passage, a closure assembly for the outlet means including an axially slotted sealing disc nut threadedly engaged in the closure assembly, a sealing disc at least of a strength to hold the normal pressure in the container and rupturable by a puncturing member, a ow limiting member having an orice therein and of a strength to hold the pressure in the container while the container is being discharged through the orifice, means spacing the portions of the sealing disc and ow limiting member along the center line of the puncturing member a distance greater than the length of travel of the puncturing member so that upon a stroke of the puncturing member the ow limiting member is free from contact with the puncturing member, and a turned in end for the sealing disc nut securing the sealing disc and the ow limiting member with the sealing disc nut body in a unitary assembly, whereby upon the retraction of the sealing disc nut away from the sealing seat an unobstructed lling passage is provided through an axial slot of the sealing disc nut past the seat into the container.

4. A readily chargeable stored high pressure medium container for use with a separable discharge device including a reciprocable puncturing member, the puncturing member having a predetermined length of stroke and normally maintained in an upward position away from contact with the container, outlet means for the container forming a passage into the container, an outwardly turned sealing seat about the passage, a closure assembly for the outlet means including an axially slotted sealing disc nut threadedly engaged in the closure assembly, a sealing disc at least of a strength to hold the normal pressure in the container and rupturable by a puncturing member, a cylindrically walled downwardly depending closed end ow limiting member having an orifice therein and of a strength to hold the pressure in the container while the container is being discharged through the orifice, a ilanged top edge for the ilow limiting member, the cylindrical wall of the ow limiting member spacing the ilow limiting member end from the sealing disc along the center line of the puncturing member a distance greater than the length of travel of the puncturing member so that upon a stroke of the puncturing member the flow limiting member is free from contact with the end of the puncturing member, and a turned in end for the sealing disc nut securing the sealing disc and the flow limiting member with the sealing disc nut body in a unitary assembly, whereby upon the retraction of the sealing disc nut away from the sealing seat an unobstructed lilling passage is provided through an axial slot of the sealing disc nut past the seat into the container.

5. A readily chargeable stored high pressure medium container for use with a separable discharge device including a reciprocable puncturing member, the puncturing member having a predetermined length of stroke and normally maintained in an upward position away from contact with the container, outlet means for the container forming a passage into the container, an outwardly turned sealing seat of a predetermined diameter about the passage, a closure assembly for the outlet means including an axially slotted sealing disc nut threadedly engaged in the closure assembly, means forming a recess in the lower end of the sealing disc nut, a gasket for the recess, a sealing disc at least of a strength to hold the normal pressure in the container and rupturable by a puncturing member, a cylindrically walled downwardly depending closed end ow limiting member having an orifice therein and of a strength to hold the pressure in the container while the container is being discharged through the orifice, a tlanged top edge for the flow limiting member, the cylindrical wall of the tlow limiting member spacing the flow limiting member end from the sealing disc along the center line of the puncturing member a distance greater than the length of travel of the puncturing member so that upon a stroke of the puncturing member the ow limiting member is free from contact with the end of the puncturing member, and a turned in end for the sealing disc nut of a diameter larger than the diameter of the seat, the turned in'end securing the sealing disc between the gasket and the tlow limiting member with the sealing disc nut body in a unitary assembly, the tlange of the flow limiting member normally adapted to contact the seat in sealing relationship, whereby upon the retraction of the sealing disc nut away from the sealing seat an unobstructed filling passage is provided through an axial slot of the sealing disc nut past the seat into the container.

6. A sub assembly closure for a readily chargeable stored high pressure medium for use with a separable discharge device including a reciprocable puncturing member having a predetermined length of stroke and normally maintained in an upward position away from contact with the container, the closure comprising an axially slotted ring nut with a recess in its lower end, a gasket in the recess, a sealing disc, a cylindrically walled downwardly depending closed end flow limiting member hav ing an orifice therein, a ilanged top edge for the cylindrical wall of the ilow limiting member, the cylindrical wall of the how limiting member spacing its end from the sealing disc a greater distance than the length of travel of the puncturing member so that the flow limiting member end is free from contact with the puncturing member at the lower end of its stroke, and a turned in end for the sealing disc nut securing the sealing disc between the gasket and the flanged top edge of the ow limiting member in a unitary assembly.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 640,207 Korrodi Ian. 2, 1900 2,610,693 Allen Sept. 16, 1952. 2,682,967 Hill July 6, 1954 2,741,319 Mickelsen Apr. 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 583,437 France Oct. 30, 1924 

